United offers seat with iPod plug, XM radio

United Airlines is pampering its wealthy clients with an updated First Suite designed to provide maximum digital entertainment. Electronista writes that the enclosure will feature a 15.4-inch LCD, on-demand music, games as well as video, and 50 channels of XM Radio content in the form of 3,000+ pre-supplied tracks. Users can plug laptops into a 110-volt universal power port, and iPods are chargeable using a built-in iPod connector that allows passengers to keep listening with a pair of noise-canceling headphones. The airline will install the new First Suite only on wide-bodied planes making international flights, such as the Boeing 747 and 777.

QM debuts thin 2G iPod nano speakers

QM-Entertainment is developing a set of speakers exclusively for Apple's second-generation iPod nano that resemble the company's existing speakers for the first-generation model. The new speakers are no thicker than two CD jewel cases, according to Electronista, but now offer colors matching all of Apple's newest music players. The as yet unnamed stereo is powered either by a USB cable, which also synchronizes the iPod, or four AAA batteries. A line-in jack is provided for third-party players. QM-Entertainment has yet to reveal battery life and other details for its latest audio hardware, which is expected to launch in January for 30 Euros ($40).

Zune at 9% of hard drive player market

Microsoft's Zune player is holding at second place in the hard drive-based player market, according to one report. The change equates to a share of nine percent, calculated by NPD using the first month of sales since the Zune's debut, while Apple's iPod's share tallies roughly 82.7 percent. The situation is less pleasant for Microsoft in the overall market, where the Zune ranks at fourth place with 1.9 percent share, according to Electronista. Despite products from Apple, Creative and SanDisk ranking ahead of the Zune, Microsoft's increase in market share represents progress from the Zune's once fifth place title. Apple's overall dominance has dropped from 63 percent in 2005 to 62.2 percent this month, according to the report, and command of the hard drive-based player market fell from 86.8 percent in the same time period.